Growing In Grace Series Part 2
The Expectations of Growing
In Grace
II Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:2
The Expectations of
Growth are demonstrated in…
A. The Example of the Baby
·
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of
the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1.
The Natural
Wants – a new baby desires
milk; you don’t have to teach it to be hungry
2.
The
New Wonder – everything is
so fascinating and interesting to a newborn baby
3.
The
Nurturing Word – the word
of God, when received, will cause you to grow.
1. A child
requires Attention
·
Proverbs 29:15 …a child
left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
2. A child
requires Assistance
·
1 Thessalonians 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
3. A child
requires Admonition
·
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
What does this tell
us? Two things: Hunger is natural, and
Growth is natural.
Just as it is
unnatural and unhealthy for a new baby not to grow and put on weight and
stature, it is unnatural and unhealthy for a Christian not to grow in grace and
knowledge.
B. The Exhortations of the
Bible
·
Ephesians 4:13, 14 Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ: From whom the whole
body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh
increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
·
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while,
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
·
Colossians
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and
stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
·
1
Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,…
C. The Edification of the
Believer
·
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
·
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound
in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Conclusion: It is important to understand
that growth is possible ONLY after birth.
If you have never
been born again, it will explain a lack of growth and understanding in your
life.
Get saved, and then
you can begin to move forward. Only then
will you begin to grow.
